Liquid storage device



May', 18, 1937 c. w. GINTER ET AL 2,080,557'

LIQUID STORAGE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1934 Patented May 18, 1937 UNITED STATES LIQUID STORAGE DEVICE Application July 23, 1934, Serial No. 736,569

16 Claims.

'I'he object of our invention is to provide 'a liquid storage device which is simple, durable and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a storage tank especially adapted for use in connection with a. liquid dispensing device such as shown in our copending'applications Serial No. 711,952, led February 19, 1934 and Serial No. 737,062, filed July 26, 1934.

More particularly, it is an object of our present invention to provide a storage tank which is connectible with and disconnectible'from a, sump, the sump being adapted for delivering oil or other contents of the tank to a dispensing mechanism or the like, the connecting mechanism between the tank and the sump being of a predetermined size and other tanks and sumps having similar connecting devices of different sizes to insure the proper association of a tank with a sump-that is, to insure that a tank containing the wrong oil will not be associated with a sump for a different oil.

Another object is to provide a combined float and check Valve connection between the sump and the tank to indicate an empty condition of the tank. l

Still another object is to provide a closure element for the tank which is automatically opened by association of the tank with the sump, the connection between the two having a sealing ring which prevents leakage of liquid while the tank is being telescopically associated with the sump after the closure element is opened.

Still another object is to provide an exhaust n... valve connected in a line of communication between the sump and the storage tank, the storage tank having a vent to atmosphere so that air exhausted thereinto can be in turn exhausted to atmosphere.

Still another object is to provide a sump and tank construction especially adapted for a liquid dispenser such as shown in our copending applications which admits air to the sump for forcing oil therefrom to the dispensing mechanism and opens the exhaust valve mentioned in the last object after such forcing operation so that the combined check and float Valve can open to admit another quantity of oil from the storage tank to the sump.

With these and other objects in View our invention consists in the construction, arrange ment and combination of the various parts of our device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed (Cl. 221-(i7) out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a, vertical sectional View through liquid storage device embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, showing a track for the storage tank and a telescoping element of the storage tank sliding along the track. Figure 3 is a sectional view similar tothe central portion of Figure 1 showing the telescoping elements of Figure 1 formed of a different; ysize to guard against interchangeability of tanks relative to sumps.

Figure 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of l sump |18 has an oil delivery pipe I'|| and an? air` line |14 extending therefrom.

The oil barrel or tank S has welded or other.A

wise secured in its bottom head a sleeves|-18zf Screw threadedly associated with the sleeve: |18 is a, telescoping element or adapter |80 of sleevelike formation. The lower end thereof is internally beveled as at |8| for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. 1

Formed integrally with the telescoping element |88 is a hub it?! connected as by arms |83 with' the telescoping element. The sleeve |'|8 .'ha's ranz annular groove |54 formed therein and a closure element |86 is adapted to have its flange |.8'| asie, sociated therewith to close the bottom'of the tank S against escape of its contents. The closure element |85 may be of metal or fiber and is pref' erably resilient to retain its extended'position in? the groove |84. Y

Slidably mounted in the hub |82 is a, pin |88 adapted for moving the closure elementV |85 to an open position as will hereinafterbe described.

The sump I'i has extending upwardly therefrom a second telescoping element |94. Itis provided with a sealing ring |98 while a gasket |92, preferably secured to the element |80, is mounted on top of it. The sealing ring and gasket are adapted for coaction with the telescoping ele-T ment |80 as shown in Figure 1. A cross barv |96' is provided in the telescoping element |94 for en-- gagement with the lower end of the pin |88 upon telescoping movement of the telescoping elements occurring, whereupon the closure elementA |88 will Arent ori-"ifea the -line --5'y be moved from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 1.

The lower end of the closure element |94 communicates with the sump |10 and has a valve seat |91. A combined float and check valve |98 is engageable therewith, the valve being pivoted on a pin 200.

'Ihe air line |14 communicates with an exhaust valve T having a valve seat 20| and a valve plug 203. Communicating with the exhaust port of the valve T is a flexible conduit 202 having a head 204. A hollow fitting 206 is swivelly associated with the head 204 and threadedly associable with a sleeveV 208 in the upper head of the tank S. The tank S is also provided with a vent sleeve 2 0.

A Valve T is provided with an actuator T in the form of a cup leather piston in a cylinder into which compressed air may be introduced from an air line 23 shown di-agrammatically in Y Figure 1 for opening the Valve .plug 203 against the constraint of a sprin`g'205 normally closing it. A compressed air line |15 is connected through a check valve |16 to the exhaust valve T, the* check valve opening toward the exhaust valve.`

Associated with the sump |10 is a track 2|2 havinga flange 2|4 secured to the sump. The track has a supporting surface 2|6 and guide flanges 2|8 (see Figure 2).

As will hereinafter appear, it is desirable to have Vthe connecting meansI between the parts |18 and |80 of different characteristics for the various storage tanks. The threaded connections between these parts may be of different sizes or of the same size but the threads being of a different pitch. For instance, it will be noted that in Figures l and 2 the threads. are of coarse pitch While in Figure 3 they are of fine pitch.

Practical operation As described in our co-pending applications, compressed air is admitted through the pipe line |15, the check valve V| 16 vand the valve T t0 the sump |10 preceding the dispensing operation for the purpose of forcing a predetermined quantity of oil from the sump |10 to the dispensing mechanism. After the predetermined n quantity is so forced' from the sump, the compressed air behind the check valve |16 is exhausted to atmosphere and the actuator T is charged with compressed airthrough the line 23. Before the next dispensing operation commences the air is exhausted from the actuator T'. With these steps of the dispensing operation in mind. we will now proceed with the operation of the storage device illustrated in the present application.

Assuming that the sump |10 has been almost completely filled with oil by gravity from the tank S, whereupon the oil has closed the combined check and float valve |98 to the positionA shown in Figure 1V, air is then admitted to the pipe line |14 for placing the oil in the sump v under pressure to close the Valve |98 and force the oil through the pipe |1| to the dispensing mechanism. As the oil lowers away from the float |98, the float will be retained against its seat |91 in the manner of a check valve by the compressed air in the sump |10 retaining it so seated.

After the predetermined quantity of oil has sleeve 208 into the tank S. This air could be discharged to atmosphere but we preferably discharge it into the tank so that any oil getting into the line |14 will be returned into the tank and by gravity into its contents, the air then passing through the vent 2|0 to atmosphere. The check valve |16 prevents the air escaping from the sump |10 through the pipe line |14v and the valve T from backing into the line |15 at a time when there is to YbeV no air in this line. When, later inthe operation, the air from the actuator T is exhausted, the valve plug 203 will be seated by the spring 205 so that subsequently when air is admitted through'the check Vvalve |16 to the valve T, lt will not ilow into the tank S but will place the contents of the sump |10 under pressure. When there is insufficient oil in the tank S to properly fill the sump |10, the check valve |98 will not be raised and consequently the compressed air subsequently admitted through the pipe line |14 will pass the valve seat |91 and be discharged into thetank S and leak to atmosphere through the vent 2|0. This serves as an indication to the operator that the tank is empty and should be replaced with a full tank.

To remove the empty tank, the fitting 206 is unscrewed from the sleeve 208 to disconnect the flexible connector 202 fromV the tank. The tank is then lifted to separate the telescoping element f be associated with the sump by placing the tank so that its telescoping element 80 is supported by the track 2|2, whereupon the lower end of the` element |80 rests on the surface 2|6 with the flanges 2|8 properly guiding it in a path toward the element |94 as the tank is slid inwardly alongV the track.

As the tank S is slid along the track the element |80 will finally drop off the left end of the track and rest on the upper end of the element |94. As the tank is then further slid along the element |94, the element |80 will finally become alignedi with the element |94 and will then slide down or telescope over'it. At the beginning of the telescoping movement the cross bar |96 of the element |94 will be engaged by the lower end of the pin |88 and the pin will then remain stationary, so that as the tank S settlesk into its final position the pin will cup the disc |86 and spring it out of the annular groove |84 of the sleeve |18.

YAs soon as the closure disc |86 isout of the groove, oil will start owing, but before this, the beveled edge |8| of the element |80 has passed the sealing ring |90 to prevent any leakage of liquid during the further telescoping movement of the elements |80 and |94.

Finally the gasket |92 will seat against the upper end of the element |94 and be compressed by the weight of the tank and its contents to prevent leakage.

The disc |86 is inserted at the refinery where the tank is lled with oil so that the tanks can be delivered in a sealed condition to the service station where the oil is dispensed, the seal being broken only by association ofV the storage tank with the sump of the dispensing mechanism in the proper manner.

As oils for service stations are usually provided `in several different grades or S. A. E. numbers,

we have guarded against interchangeability of tanks and sumps by providing each sump of a multiple oil dispenser with dierent size telescoping elements and |94. For instance in Figure 3 we have shown elements |8|ld and |94a which are of larger size than the ones shown in Figure l. Other parts having the same characteristics, except being of different size are given the same reference numerals as the parts of Figure l with the addition of the distinguishing characteristic a,

Thus an element |80, too large or too small for an element |94 cannot be properly associated therewith and elements of the same coacting diameters only can be associated together for thus serving to insure that the proper grade of oil will be supplied to the proper sump.

Each dispenser unit, including a plurality of sumps and a plurality of storage tanks, will be supplied with as many fittings |86 as there are sumps. For instance, if the dispenser is built with four sumps for four tanks, there Will be four of the elements |89 shipped by the manufacturer to the user. The sleeve |18 of each tank is internally threaded with a thread of a different size or pitch so that only the proper element |80 can be associated therewithr to thus insure that when the storage tank filled with oil is received by the user he can screw only the proper element or adapter |80 in position.

The interfltting elements |80 and |94 can also be of different shapes instead of different sizes. This is illustrated in Figure 5 wherein a hexagon rather than a round shape is shown for these elements. The elements in this figure, which differ from but correspond to the elements in the preceding figures, are given the same reference numerals With the addition of the distinguishing characteristic b.

It will be noted that the hexagonal shape of the element |801) is effectively guided by the flanges 2|8 of the track 2|2 and prevented from rotating so as to properly align with the element |9617 and telescope over it after nally assuming a position above it,

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank for mounting thereon and removal therefrom, said sump and tank having telescoping elements for coaction with each other to establish hydraulic communication between said tank and said sump and a closure element which is displaceable and non-returnable to its original place, said closure element normally closing the telescoping element of said tank and being engageable with the other telescoping element and thereby displaced for opening said tank when said elements are telescoped together.

2. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank for mounting thereon and removal therefrom, said sump and tank having telescoping .elements for coaction with each other to establish hydraulic communication between said tank and said sump, a gasket interposed between said elements and sealingly engaged with them by the weight of said tank and its contents and a closure element which is displaceable and non-returnable to its original place, said closure element normally closing the telescoping element of said tank and being engageable with the other telescoping element and thereby displaced for opening said tank when said elements are telescoped together.

3. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank for mounting thereon and removal therefrom, said sump and tank having telescoping elements for coaction with each other to establish hydraulic communication between said tank and said sump and a closure element normally closing the telescoping element of said tank and being engageable with the other telescoping element when said elements are telescoped together whereby said closure element is opened, said telescoping elements comprising sleeves and a packing ring connection between them to prevent liquid leakage while they are being telescoped together after said closure element is opened.

4. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank for mounting thereon and removal therefrom, said sump and tank having telescoping elements for coaction with each other to establish hydraulic communication between said tank and said sump, a closure element normally closing the telescoping element of said tank and being engageable with the other telescoping element when said elements are telescoped together whereby said closure element is opened and a track on said sump adapted to be engaged by the telescoping element on said tank and to thereby support the tank and its contents while they are slid to position for said elements to telescope with each other, said track guiding the telescoping element of the tank to the proper position for coaction with the telescoping element of the sump.

5. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank for mounting thereon and removal therefrom, said sump and tank having telescoping elements for coaction with each other to establish hydraulic communication between said tank and said sump, a closure element which is displaceable and non-returnable to its original place, said closure element normally closing the telescoping element of said tank anda closure element displacing device slidably associated with said last mentioned telescoping element, said closure element displacing device being engageable with the other telescoping element upon the elements being telescoped together for displacing said closure element and thereby opening the passageway through the telescoping element of said tank.

6. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank hydraulically connected therewith and readily disconnectible therefrom, a valve between said sump and tank and opening toward said sump whereby to permit fluid to flow from said tank to said sump, said valve, upon introduction of compressed air into said sump, acting as a check valve to prevent further flow of uid from the tank to the sump until such compressed air is exhausted and a conduit connected with and disconnectible from one portion of said tank through which said compressed air may be exhausted, another portion of Said tank having a vent to atmosphere.

7. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank hydraulically connected therewith and removable and disconnectible therefrom, a iioat valve between said sump and tank and opening toward said sump whereby to permit fluid to ilow from said tank to said sump and be closed by the rise of the fluid in said sump, said float valve, upon introduction of compressed air into said sump, acting as a check valve to prevent further flow of iiuid from the tank to the sump untill such compressed air isl released and means for establishing communication between said sump and one portion kof said tank through which said compressed air may be exhausted, another portion of said tank having a vent to atmosphere, said means of communicationincluding a ilexible conduit and a fitting swivelly connected therewith and screw threadedly connectible with said tank said flexible conduit permitting manipulation of said tting and movement thereof to a position permitting removal of said tank from said sump. Y

8. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank hydraulically connected therewith and removable and disconnectible therefrom, means for introducing compressed air into said sump .and means for establishing communication between said sump and said tank through which said compressed air may be exhausted, said tank having a vent to atmosphere and said means of communication including a flexible conduit and a tting connected with one end thereof and disconnectibly connected with said tank, said flexible conduit permitting manipulation of said fitting and movement thereof to a position permitting removal of said tank from said sump.

9. In a liquid storage device, a tank, a sump hydraulically connected therewith, a float valve between said sump and tank and opening toward said sump whereby to permit fluid to flow from said tank to said sump and be closed by the rise of the fluidin said sump, said float valve, upon introduction of compressed air into said sump, acting as a check valve to prevent further iiow of fluid from the tank to the sump until such compressed air is released and means for establishing communication between said sump and said tank through which said compressed air may be exhausted, said tank having a vent to atmosphere, said means of communication including a'valve normally closed and an actuator therefor, said valve being openable upon introduction of compressed air into said actuator.

10. In a liquid storage device, a tank, a sump hydraulically connected therewith, a float valve between said sump and tank and opening toward said sump whereby to permit iluid to flow from said tank to said sump and be closed by the rise of the fluid in said sump, said iloat valve, upon introduction of compressed air into said sump, acting as a check valve to prevent further ow of fluid from the tank to the sump until such compressed air is released and means for establishing communication between said sump and said tank through which said compressed air may be exhausted, said tank having a vent to atmosphere, the connection .admitting compressed air to said sump including a check valve to prevent compressed air fromthe sump returning through such connection, said means of communication including a valve normally closed and an actuator therefor, said valve being openable upon introduction of compressed air into said actuator.

11.y In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank hydraulically communicating therewith and removable therefrom, a valve between said sump and said tank, a compressed air passageway communicating with said sump, an exhaust valve communicating with said passageway and a discharge line for said exhaust Valve, said discharge line having its discharge end detachably connected with one portion of the top of said tank and a vent in another portion of the top of said tank.

12. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank hydraulically communicating therewith, a combined check and oat valve between said sump and said tank, a connection for admitting compressed air to said sump, said connection including a check valve and an exhaust valve intermediate the check valve and the sump, said exhaust valve having its exhaust port communicating with said tank and a vent for said tank, a compressed air actuating device for said exhaust valve and a disconnectible connection between the exhaust port of said exhaust valve and said tank.

13. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank for mounting thereon and' removal therefrom, said sump and tank having telescoping elements for coaction with each other to establish hydraulic communication between said tank and said sump, and means for closing said tank, said means being openable by coaction of said telescoping elements, said telescoping elements comprising sleeves and a packing ring connection between them to prevent leakage while they are being telescoped together after said means for y closing sai-d tank is opened.

14. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank for mounting thereon and removal therefrom,`

elements to telescope with each other, said track guiding the telescoping element of the tank to the proper position for coaction with the telescoping element of the sump.

15. In a liquid storage device, asump, a tank for mounting thereon and removal therefrom, said sump and tank having telescoping elements for coaction with each other to establish hydraulic communication between said tank and said sump, means for closing said tank, said means being openable by coaction of said telescoping elements, said telescopingelements comprisingsleeves and a packing ring connection betweenY them to prevent leakage while they are being telescoped together after said means for closing said tank is opened, anda track on said sump adapted to be engaged by the telescoping element on said tank and to thereby support the tank and its contents while they are slid to position for said elements to telescope with each other, said track guiding the telescoping element of the tank to the proper position for coaction with the telescoping element of the sump. l

16. In a liquid storage device, a sump, a tank hydraulically connected therewith and disconnectible therefrom means between said sump and tank to permit fluid to flow from said tank to said sump, means for introducing compressed air into said sump to cause said liquid to flow therefrom, means for exhausting said compressed air therefrom and a conduit for discharging the exhaust air into one portion of said tank above the liquid therein, another portion of said tank having a vent to atmosphere to permit escape of said exhausted air and said conduit being connectible with and disconnectible from said rst portion of said tank.

CHARLES W. GINTER. JOHN F. CARTER. 

